Saturday, June 16, 2007

Dutch Open Source consultation (5)

Decide centrally about desired file formatsThe majority of the respondents agree that the government should play a role in the introduction of open standards. A vast majority thinks that the government should set up a list of desirable, less desirable and not desirable file formats, like the Germans have done. At the same time the government should maintain and stimulate the list. A majority also believes that the government should contractually oblige software companies to comply with the desirable software, if they want to be considered for an assignment.

Government software and open sourceAsked whether software especially manufactured for Dutch government services should be available without any exception as open software, the answer was positive. Relatively many respondents point to the themes of democratic control and vigilance and plea for openness and transparency. The fact that tax money is being used is for a number of respondents a reason to see this as a moral duty of the government to offer the software as open source.

On the other hand there are also respondents who think that not all software needs to be published as open source. There are situations possible in which closed software could be used. An example is software related to national security or strategic issues.

Not without exceptions. There are situations in which open source software for whatever reason is not the best choice. This is possible as all aspects should be taken into consideration; there should not be a blind choice of open source software. But having said that, every time a decision has to be made open source software should be weighed against a closed format in the light of the objective and the interests of the software, says Alex van der Wolk.

In principle yes; but there are most likely situations in which another choice is more desirable. So it is yes, unless.

Order Dutch language book by clicking this image

WSA

About Me

Jak Boumans (1945) is principal consultant with Electronic Media Reporting, a private consultancy specialised in content strategy, based in Almere (The Netherlands). In 1970 he started in the publishing industry with companies like VNU and Kluwer, particularly in general encyclopaedias. From 1980 he got involved in electronic publishing, running a videotex studio. In 1984 he launched a daily online newsletter for the computer industry from London. In 1987 he was part of the production team that produced the first Dutch subscription CD-ROM for Kluwer for lawyers.
In 1990 he started the private company Electronic Media Reporting, a consultancy specialised in content. He worked for international organisation ( European Commission, OESO), Dutch ministries, national organisations and companies.
He is secretary-general of the European Academy of Digital Media (EADiM) and board member of the multimedia competition World Summit Award (WSA).
He has written for national and international magazines. He was contributor, editor and editor-in-chief of Telecombrief (1981-2004). He wrote, contributed to and co-edited books. His last book in Dutch was on Pre-internet in de polder (1967-1997).